To better serve manuscript authors, and to continue publishing high-quality oncology research, the
Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) has updated and expanded its information for contributors. These guidelines will take effect with the July 1, 2008 issue of JCO.
The updated information intends to help contributors meet the
Journal’s standards for submission, whether they fall under the category of original reports, editorials, review articles, or special articles. The importance and originality of the research to the field of oncology remain the most significant considerations for manuscript acceptance. The new guidelines note how authors can demonstrate the originality of their research within the title page and cover letter of the manuscript, and through recognition of previously published or closely related work. Novel research submissions from authors who have “one hand on the bench and the other on the patient” are encouraged.
The
Journal’s criteria for considering research reports from early phase trials is important for clinical researchers. Phase I trial results will be considered for publication if they have interesting clinical responses, unusual toxicity that points to the mechanism of action of the investigated agents, and important or novel correlative laboratory studies associated with the trials. Reports of phase II studies should include a clear definition of the primary endpoint, hypothesized value of the primary endpoint that justified the planned sample size, and discussion of possible weaknesses (such as any comparison to historic controls). Phase II and III clinical trials reports must include a CONSORT diagram, which will not count toward the figure and table limit of the manuscript.
The guidelines detail how contributors can make effective inquiries about the suitability of potential manuscripts. Suitability inquiries should contain a detailed explanation of the manuscript content, an outline listing specific or clinical phase trials to be included, and all author conflicts of interest in order to receive a reply.
Authors submitting manuscripts on biomarkers should review and adhere to the NCI-EORTC “Reporting Recommendations for Tumor Marker Prognostic Studies (REMARK),” as published in the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute (
J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005:97;1180).
The information for contributors also specifies the requirements for consensus statements. These statements must generate from an open scientific meeting and should meet the following criteria:
- Present recent changes in a topic without repeating well-documented material
- Derive from an established, high-profile cancer group made up of recognized experts on the topic
- Include a high level of evidence
The complete guidelines for JCO submissions can be found online at http://jco.ascopubs.org under “
Information for Contributors.” A brief outline appears in the July 1, 2008 issue of JCO.
Dr. Brian Till Receives 2008 JCO-sponsored Young Investigator Award
JCO presented its 2008 Young Investigator Award (YIA) to Brian Till, MD, a senior medical oncology fellow at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington. Dr. Till will conduct his award-winning research, “A phase I study to evaluate the safety and feasibility of cellular immunotherapy using genetically modified autologous CD20-specific T cells for patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell and indolent B cell lymphomas,” during the coming year.
“Advanced indolent lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma are essentially incurable with standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy,” says Dr. Till. “Although cellular therapy in the form of allogeneic stem cell transplantation or donor lymphocyte infusion can be curative, there are many risks associated with those procedures. Although the primary endpoints of this study are to assess the safety and feasibility of treating patients with these modified autologous CD20-specific T cells, we’re obviously interested in seeing whether the treatment affects the patients’ disease course as well. Our hope is that we may see long-term remissions from this clinical trial.”
